Lögberg-Heimskringla - 02.10.1975, Síða 2

LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, FIMMTUDAGINN 2. OKTÓBER 1975
Hijgbers*J|etmökrtngla ufcUa it in iEnyltnb
LET#S TALK ABOUT THE CENTENNIAL
CONCERT HALL, NOT ME,
SAYS BOB GOODMAN
Yes, Robert Goodman is an Icelandic Canadian, born in
Winnipeg the son of Barney Goodman and the late Elísabet
Hrefna Goodman. But vital statistics out of the way, he’d
rather talk abour The Manitoba Centennial Cénter, a far
more interesting subject of conversation than himself, who
is merely doing a job as executive director of this m^rvel-
lous somplex, which he declares should be the pride of every
Manitoban.
It takes no time at all to catch his enthusiasm, for Bob
Goodman is clearly one of those fortunate individuals who
enjoys his work. “It’s an interesting place,” he says —
“bautiful premises and the acoustics in the Concert Hall are
internationally acclaimed. The atmosphere is still fresh with
something new cropping up all the tlme.” 300 groups per-
formed in the Concert Hall during the past year and the
total attendance was over 425,000. It employs a permanent
staff of 85, with 50 part time workers added during perform-
ances.
Robert, who with his wife Beryl performs in the Scandi-
navian Pavilion each year during Fölklorama Week, happl-
ly recalled that last summer the dance group from Iceland
was invited to perform in the Concert Hall at the end of the
weelf. “Not because they were visitors from another country
but because of the excellence of. their performance.” He
found it exciting to help them and two of the group stayed
in the Goodman home.
, It was exciting, too, to take a walk around the. place
with Bob Goodman, who explains that while they are part
of the Manitoba Centennial Centrel the Museum of Man and
Nature and the Planatorium manage their own programs,
but the buildings and services come uijder the same ad-
ministration as the Concert Hall.
The Museum of Man and Nature is well named. It is a
living history öf Manitoba from its primeval past, when
magnificent animals fought for sovereignty over its forests
and grasslands, through the succeeding ages of human
struggle for survival, to the coming of the white man and
his ultimate domination.
The buffalo and the caribou are there, lifelike and real,
in their natural surroundings, the blue prairie sky above
them and a horizon as wide as the world. Perceptive artists
have brought into being this illusion of great distance, and
the Museunj itself is in constant process of creation. The
renowned wildlife artist, Clarence Tillenius, is now þusy in
the Museum painting scenes of the Arctic and Sub Arctic.
The Indian hunter is seen here, fighting with primitive
tools for existence in the wild kingdom öf the plains before
the coming of the white man. Authentic replicas of the
vehicles, ships, a log cabin and countless genuine arti-
facts trace the story of civilized living, from the age of the
fur traders, who pened up the country to the inflúx of pione
ers to clear the forest and till the soil, and to build villages
that were to grow into great modem cities.
One could spend a week in the Museum of Man and
Nature and still be drawn back for many more tours of
exploration. 288,000 people went through it last year, in-
cluding well over 50,000 school children. Some were brought
in buses from various points in the province. Its extension
program catered to 230,000 people, while its multicultural
classes in handicrafts and other ethnic arts were attended
by 370,000.
The Planatorium attracted 131,000 people last year. It is
one of the finest- star theatres in North America, and each
of its six major yearly productions is an introduction to the
wonders of outer space.
The Centennial Centre is subsidized by the Manitoba
Govemment. It is a cultural capital centred in the capital
city of the province, and surely a grand reminder of the suc-
ceeding centennial anniversaries of the country and the. pro-
vince. The Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Centennial
Cóncert Hall commemorat e Canada’s Centennial year in
1967. While the Museum of Man and Nature and the Plana-
torium opened in Manitoba’s Centennial year, 1970.
As a couple of visitors from Iceland said last summer:
“We could spend all the time we have here just to enjoy all
there is to see in the Centennial Centre in Winnipeg.
C. G.
\
ENGLISH TEXT OF REV. ÓLAFUR SKÚLASONfS ADDRESS
Mr. chairman, it. is my
privilege at this time to con-
vey greetings and best wish-
es of the National Leagues in
Icéland as well as thosé of
the big party of Icelanders
that have descended from
the sky onto your beautiful
land. We left our homeland
as so many of your ancestors
but conarary to their experi-
ence we had a swift and easy
voyage thanks to new techn-
ology and skill. And as we
flew over the inhospitable
whitenéss of Greenland’s
glaciers our thoughts were
with those who came here,
100 years ago and brought to
mind the changes and newn-
ess of everything compared
to their lot.
One thing, höwever, we
know has not changed: With
the courage to face new cal-
lenges must go appreciation
for the roots that have made
you what you are to day.
And I hope it doesn’t sound
boastful when I say that we
who come here now from Ice
land want to remind you of
these roots ,yes, to a certain
degree to represent them
during these days. We don’t
want you to forget Iceland
and we want to reiterate as
often as the opportunities av
ail themselves of the fact
that you have brothers and
sisters —.or at least relátives
— over in the land of the
northern light and long sum
mer days. That is why we
are here.in such great numb-
ers: A living and not a miss-
ing link with your past.
But smiles, fade away and
even the firmest handshakes
grow limp from the on-
slaught of time and memory-
es oale. That is whv we want
•
to help you unite the blessed
past with a beneficiál pres-
ent for a brighter future of
understanding with appreci-
ation and friendsihiD. And in
supnort of this goal I’ve the
sood fortupe here at the ís-
lendingadasurinn to an-
nounce a substantial gift to
vour Lög'bers-Heimskringla
nuhlication in the hone that
thi's mav assure its continu-
ed apDesrance and find read
ers on both sides of the oce-
an.
Flolckur glímumanna, dans
ara, söngvara, lúðrasveitar-
manna hefur minnt okkur á
þætti íslenzkrar sögu og
margir hafa séð hulunni lyft
frá tjaldi fortíðar við frá-
bæra túlkun leikara Þjóð-
leikhússins. En von okkar
með ðllu þessu er sú, að við
þetta skapist löngun frekari
kynna og framhald heim-
sókna. Þar er komið að okk-
ur Heima-lslendingum að
taka upp þráðinn og spinna
hann sem styrkastan.
I said previously all of us
would wish to express our
thanks publicly. In the same
manner we would like to
thank all of you individually
but publicly as your hospital
ity has far surpassed our ex-
pectations. Again, however,
one or two must represent
the many. Therefore, I
would like at this time to
call upon Mr. Ted Amason,
president of t'he committee
responsible for these glorio-
us days at Gimli, and Mr.
Stefan J. Stefanson, presid-
ent of the Icelandic National
League and ask them on be-
half of all the others — not
the least their own wives —
to accept these golden pins
of which there are only
four in existance, one al-
readv having been Dresented
to the President of Iceland.
These pins spell out our un-
ity in appreciation of com-
mon ancestors and heritage
as well as willingness to add
still new chapters to the
same in the future.
THE ICELANDIC EXODUS
(Dróttkvæði: Ancient Court Measure)
By WATSON KIRKCONNELL
Often through the ages
Earthquakes smote the firthlands;
Towns of turf and stone were
Tumbled low and humbled.
Pallid Hekla’s passione'd
Peak exploded, reeking;
Heights of Dyngja’s hell-fire
Heaved their ash sky-cleaving;
Palls of powdered pumice
Pile upon the Island;
Sheep are shrouded, choking;
_ Shaggy colts are gagging;
Homes of haggard farmers
Are hidden, cinder-ridden;
Verdant meadows~ vanish,
Vast is the disaster.
Scourged by pox and scurvy,
Skins of men are brindled;
Leprosy grows livid,
Lashing men all-ashen.
More than nature mauls thom,
Magnates’ taxes scrag them;
Freedom long has failed them,
Foreign chiefs give orders.
Moses once led masses,
Marred by alien sergeants,
' Into eager exile
Under signs and wonders;
So did Iceland’s offspring
Issue, hopeful, wishful —
Seeking past the sunset
Sites that would entitle
Them and all their offspring
To honour, free and honest.
See, a hundred summers
Sink beyond all inkling.
Now the dream of daring
Dawns to truth upon them.